Are you planning to capture clear footage of your home entrance to increase security? Installing CCTV camera varifocal lenses is the most effective way to keep your home safe and secure. Furthermore, when choosing a home security camera, you will get countless options. But the question is, which camera lens to choose? Well! You will mainly get two options: a fixed lens and a varifocal lens. However, don’t get confused! In this comprehensive blog, we will discuss what CCTV camera varifocal lenses are, how they enhance home security, their benefits, and drawbacks.
Before indulging in the blog, let’s discuss a brief introduction to varifocal lenses. A variable focal lens is a motorized lens that can adjust its focal length and focus to zoom in and out. However, this is in distinction to a fixed-lens camera, which cannot zoom. Do you know? Varifocal lenses provide CCTV monitoring solutions without giving extra effort for maintenance and manual checks. It has obvious applications in CCTV camera varifocal lenses, since it enables the camera to capture high-resolution, license plate, zoomed-in, auto-focused images of faces, and other relevant data from security footage.
As we all know, having a CCTV camera with varifocal lenses can ensure that every task a fixed-focal-length, wide-angle-lens camera can do is also performed. As a result, it helps to save money and offers a better range of area coverage with a significant reduction in blind spots. A variable focal lens CCTV security system might cost more than a standard camera lens, but it offers advantages that are worth the price. Let’s continue with the blog to get a complete understanding of CCTV camera varifocal lenses.
What are Varifocal Lenses?
A varifocal lens provides CCTV monitoring solutions, and a multifocal lens offers smooth, clear vision at a wide range of distances, from near to far and beyond. Additionally, CCTV camera varifocal lenses have an adjustable focal length, allowing users to change the camera’s field of view (FOV) and zoom in or out without changing the lens. Likewise, unlike fixed lenses, which have a fixed focal length, a varifocal focal lens offers flexibility in adjusting the camera’s field of view.
Therefore, this CCTV security system is an ideal option for security surveillance applications where the camera’s range to subjects or monitored areas can vary. Likewise, they are often explained by a range of focal lengths, 2.8-12mm, 5-50mm, and 5-100mm. An extensive aperture means that you can effortlessly zoom in closer and view images in more detail, while a tiny aperture means that you can zoom out further to see a wider view.
Technical Configuration of CTV Camera Varifocal Lenses
| Parameter | Typical Values / Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Type | C-mount (1″-32 UN threads), CS-mount | Defines how the lens attaches to the camera body. |
| Sensor Compatibility | 1/4″, 1/3″, 1/2″, 2/3″, 1″ | The lens image circle must match or exceed the camera sensor size. |
| Focal Length Range (Varifocal) | 2.8–12 mm, 3.5–8 mm, 5–50 mm, 9–22 mm, 10–120 mm | Adjustable focal range enabling zooming without focus shift. |
| Aperture (F-number) | F1.2, F1.4, F1.6, F2.0, Auto-Iris (DC / Video) | Controls light entering the lens, Auto-Iris automatically adjusts exposure. |
| Focus Control | Manual, Motorized focus | Manual ring or electronic control for remote focusing. |
| Zoom Control | Manual, Motorized zoom | Allows optical zoom adjustment. |
| Iris Type | Manual Iris, DC Auto-Iris, Video Auto-Iris, P-Iris | DC AI preferred for surveillance, P-Iris for precise aperture control. |
| Field of View (FOV) | Wide at low focal length, Narrow at high focal length | Depends on sensor size and zoom setting. |
| Minimum Object Distance (MOD) | 0.1 m – 0.5 m | Closest distance at which proper focus is possible. |
| Optical Format | 1/3″, 1/2″, 2/3″, 1″ | Must match the camera for optimal imaging. |
| Resolution Rating | Standard: 2MP / 1080p High-res: 5MP / 8MP / 4K |
Indicates maximum image clarity supported. |
| IR Correction | IR-corrected (Day/Night), Non-IR | IR-corrected lenses prevent focus shifts in night mode. |
| Lens Elements / Groups | 6–14 elements in 4–10 groups | Depends on the focal range and resolution. |
| Filter Thread | M25.5×0.5, M27×0.5, M30.5×0.5 | For adding external filters (IR cut, ND etc.). |
| Back Focus Adjustment | Yes (common for C-mount) | Fine-tunes the distance between lens and sensor. |
| Operating Temperature | −20°C to +60°C (typical) | Environmental tolerance. |
| Weight | 60 g – 250 g | Depends on optics and housing. |
How do CTV Camera Varifocal Lenses Work?
CTV camera varifocal lenses are the camera’s flexible eye. Varifocal means you can manually or electronically adjust the focal length, from 2.8 mm to 12 mm. When you change the focal length, you can zoom in or out without changing the lens. Its most significant advantage is that you can cover a wide area with a single lens and see distant objects clearly even when zoomed in. When the focal length is short, the image is wide. Therefore, when it is long, the image is narrow but zoomed in.
CCTV security system lenses have a focus ring that makes the image clear, and an iris that controls the amount of light, like the pupil of a camera eye. Some varifocal lenses have an auto-iris that adjusts automatically to lighting conditions, especially useful in outdoor CCTV cameras. If the lens is IR-corrected, the image won’t blur even at night when the camera shifts to night mode. Overall, varifocal lenses give you the flexibility to achieve perfect framing and clarity with a single camera, regardless of the distance.
How to Buy the Best CTV Camera Varifocal Lenses for Business/Home?
Whether the CCTV security system uses a fixed or varifocal lens, there is always a trade-off between the area the lens can focus on and capture, and the level of detail it can capture in zoom-in pictures. Furthermore, the larger aperture of the CCTV camera varifocal lenses allows you to zoom in on the focus object and view it in more detail. If a variable focal lens security camera is not functioning well, you can modify the angle of view and concentrate on a varifocal lens via the security camera software.
Nevertheless, when choosing the best CCTV camera varifocal lenses, it is always a good idea to discuss your needs with a salesperson at a security camera store to get the best solutions. Additionally, you can view live CCTV recording of the store’s exterior through a camera with different lenses. Nonetheless, if you are buying varifocal lenses for home CCTV monitoring solutions, it is best to compare prices across various online stores and read reviews.
What Makes Varifocal Lens a Better Option for Security and Surveillance?
CCTV cameras are used in many places, including corporate offices, warehouses, airports, retail outlets, and parking lots. Whether it is to cover a wider area or zoom in on specific objects, each space has particular specifications and requirements. A variable focal lens can help you meet most of these requirements without additional cameras. A varifocal lens can enhance security monitoring in the following ways:
1. Adjustable Zoom and Field of View
The key CCTV monitoring solutions of a varifocal lens are its adjustable field of view and zoom level. For instance, you can increase or decrease the focal length of a varifocal lens to capture the desired field of view required by the camera. You can increase the lens’s focal length to capture objects farther from the camera. Similarly, you can decrease its focal length to monitor a wider area. This provides immense convenience for capturing different fields of view without changing the lens or camera position.
2. Better Recognition with Optical Zoom
Since CCTV security system lenses provide greater magnification through optical zoom, they are ideal for security monitoring. It means that varifocal lenses can capture the details of objects at a distance from the camera. The magnification provided by the varifocal lens offers several advantages in image-acquisition applications. It improves facial recognition, thereby increasing the likelihood of tracing the culprit.
Additionally, in traffic security systems, a CCTV camera fitted with a varifocal lens can identify license plates of vehicles under suspicion or in violation of the law. It is because a varifocal lens uses optical zoom, not digital zoom, which minimizes image degradation during magnification.
3. Remove Blind Spots
The varifocal lens offers a wide range of viewing angles and CCTV monitoring solutions because of its adjustable focal length. That is how it manages to capture a field of view comparable to that of several cameras with standard lenses. That means you can replace the several-camera setup with a varifocal lens CCTV system. Consequently, this removes blind spots, enabling better, more efficient coverage.
4. Save Cost
As good as they may sound, CCTV camera varifocal lenses are more expensive than conventional lenses. However, the investment will save you a fortune later. They save you from having to install several CCTVs, thereby reducing the installation and maintenance costs of many cameras.
It’s Time to Wrap Things Up!
A CCTV camera lens offers the flexibility to match the capture range to changing security needs, providing sharper control over how each shot is recorded. Furthermore, a varifocal lens works best when paired with other options to create a sustainable security system that balances wide scanning and precise focus. If you are looking for CCTV camera varifocal lenses to enhance security surveillance for a storefront, office, or outdoor spaces, ensure to choose Superior CCTV. We offer the best security solutions that fit your growth and layout plans.
Moreover, as one of the leading CCTV lens providers, we are committed to providing you with the best, optimum security solutions. Likewise, it includes offering you high-quality CCTV lenses, guiding you to get optimal placement, and helping you pick the right security lenses for your needs and preferences. So, what are you waiting for? Connect with us today, and let’s safeguard your space together without spending a fortune!